Apprenticeships for under-25s flatlining, report finds

The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has published a report urging the government to do more to deliver apprenticeships for young people, with enrolments for under-25s flatlining.

The data showed that apprenticeship starts for under-25s rose by four per cent from 2010-14, compared to 17 per cent for over-25s. It also outlined that the training courses taken following the completion of qualifications were not a step up from the apprentice’s previous level of study.

The commission welcomed the government’s current efforts to increase the number of quality apprenticeships.

However, it added: “The overall growth in apprenticeship starts has been driven by large increases in participation of over-25s. While youth apprenticeships have roughly flatlined since the early years of the decade, starts by over-25s are more than 150,000 higher in 2014/15 compared to 2009/10.

"In comparison to this increase there were over 5,000 fewer apprenticeship starts by under-19s in 2014/15 compared to 2010/11. And there were around 1,000 fewer 19-24 apprenticeship starts in 2014/15 compared to 2011/12."

The study warned that if the trend continued, then adult apprenticeship starts would continue to increase while youth starts would stagnate or decline.

Another issue highlighted by the commission was the number of apprentices studying at levels below their age, with 68 per cent of A-level age apprentices studying apprenticeships at GCSE level and 98 per cent of degree-age apprentices studying at A-level equivalent or below.

Alan Milburn, Commission chairman, said: "The government is committed to giving all young people a chance to make something of their lives, but the current drive to increase the number of apprenticeships isn't delivering for people under the age of 24.

"The number of young apprentices has flatlined since 2010 and many of these apprenticeships don't offer young people a foundation they can build on.

"The government needs to increase the quality of apprenticeships on offer to young people and make sure that every apprenticeship offers a genuine route to success.”

However, a government spokesperson argued: "Apprenticeships give school leavers the opportunity to gain the skills they need to get on. Our reforms mean apprenticeships are more rigorously tested, last longer and are more responsive to the needs of employers.”